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Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Shepherd

Once upon a time, there lived in Basra an old man whose onlyoccupation was caring for and loving his only son who was a handsomeyoung man. The old man invested all his money on his son's education.The young man went away for a few years and acquired an education at awell known university under the great scholars of that age.The day had arrived for the son to return from his studies and the oldman waited at the door for his son. When the son came and met hisfather, the old man looked into his eyes and felt greatdisappointment. "What have you learnt my son?" he asked, "I havelearnt everything there was to be learnt, father", he said. "But haveyou learnt what cannot be taught?" asked the father. "Go, my son andlearn what cannot be taught", said the old man.

The young man went back to his master and asked him to teach him whatcannot be taught."Go away to the mountains with these four hundred sheep and come backwhen they are one thousand", said the master.

The young man went to the mountains and became a shepherd. There forthe first time he encountered a silence. He had no one to talk to. Thesheep did not understand his language. In his desperation, he wouldtalk to them but they would look back at him as if to say he wasstupid. Slowly but surely he began to forget all his worldlyknowledge, his ego, his pride and he became quiet like the sheep andgreat wisdom and humility came to him.

At the end of two years when the number of sheep had grown to onethousand, he returned to his master and fell on his feet. "Now youhave learnt what cannot be taught," said the master.

NB. It is interesting to note that the Nabis of Allah Taala (Alayhimussalaam) at some time in their lives, generally before Nubuwwat, tendedto sheep, and other such animals.